Kinn Cascade Flyer

Kinn is new company with 1 model of family oriented bike in Oregon. The frame, wheels and many other parts are made locally.

The Cascade Flyer is part of a new class of bikes called "mid-tails", shorter and lighter than a "long-tail" cargo bike, such as Yuba Mundo or an Xtracycle, but long enough to carry a kid plus a couple of panniers. And it comes with everyone you need, except for lights: integrated rack, fenders, chainguard, dual kickstand, 8-speed internal gear hub, disc brakes and a leather saddle.

The designer wanted a bike that was sturdy and long enough to carry his grandkids along with a couple of bags of groceries, but short and light enough to ride to work and around town. It also is just short enough to fit on a bus rack for bikes, with the front wheel turned backwards: this explains the curve in the down-tube. The geometry is designed to handle similarly to a modern hybrid or city bike, with 72 degree frame angles, and full-size 700c wheels (built by hand in Portland).

Front wheel twists so the bike can fit a standard bus rack

The 8-speed Alfine IGH version costs $2350 for a complete bike as shown. A 27-speed derailleur option is the same price. Unfortunately, there is no small size; riders shorter than 5'2" are out of luck, but medium to tall people should fit.

This can be a good option for a person who wants a made-in-the-USA, fully equipped bike that can haul groceries and a kid, and also serve as a commuter bike and city bike. I wish the complete build included dynamo lights. Considering that the wheels are hand-built locally, it may be possible to add this on to the order for an additional cost. If not, the front wheel should sell easily on Ebay.

You also get some fancy extras, like the bamboo rack top with hidden lockbox:

This bike has been reviewed by Lovely Bicycle and covered by Bikeportland

Specs:

FRAME FORK	Hand made in Portland Oregon from heat-treated Cro-moly steel tubing. Fits tires up to 1.75″ wide (700x42mm) with fenders. Fork has eyelets for front rack at dropout and mid-blade.
Sizes	Regular  (5’2”-5’10”)  or  Large (5’8”-6’4”)
Three Colors	Sardinian Sea, Red Earth, Clean Slate
Built-in Rear Rack	Rated for 130lbs (60kg) to easily carry a child and groceries. 21″ rack with bamboo deck.
Child Transport	Built-in Yepp EasyFit window for direct child seat mounting. Integrated footpeg mounts.
Cargo Capacity	Pannier rails fit standard panniers even with a Yepp child seat attached

GEARING	27 SPEED DERAILLEUR	ALFINE 8 SPEED INTERNAL
Cranks	Shimano triple 44-32-22	Kinn 36t Aluminum Crankset with Ring-guard
Cassette	Shimano 9 spd 11-34 Cassette.	Shimano Alfine 8-speed Internal hub with 20T cog
Shifter	Shimano Alivio 430 trigger shifter	Shimano Alfine Trigger

WHEELS	Hand-built in Portland by Sugar Wheelworks
Rims & spokes	Alex DM-18 700C silver rims, with 36 14G stainless steel spokes
Hubs	Shimano SLX  or Shimano Alfine hubs
Tires	700c x 35mm, with reflective sidewall and puncture guard
Brakes & Levers	Avid BB5 mechanical disk brakes for all weather stopping power
Levers	Tektro 3 finger levers
Pedals	VP-560 silver alloy platform pedals
Handlebar, Grips & Bell	Alloy touring/city bar and lacquered cork grips and classic brass bell
Saddle	Velo comfort saddle
Seatpost	Silver alloy 27.2mm x 350mm
Stem	Polished aluminum stem. 90mm (small) 110mm (large)
Fenders	Alloy full coverage fenders with mud flaps and rear reflector.
Other:	Chainguard, double kickstand, footpegs

Xtracycle Edgerunner

Xtracycle Edgerunner 27D Lux XO

Continuing our overview of cargo bike options, the relatively new Edgerunner is a Longtail cargo bike from Xtracycle.

Xtracycle founded the current Longtail cargo bike craze, with their FreeRadical. This frame extender attached to a standard bike, converting it to a longtail. An ecosystem of accessories, bags, decks, lights and kickstands was developed around this standard, which Yuba later adopted for their Mundo bike, as have some other manufacturers. Now Xtracycle is making their own complete bike, the Edgerunner. 

The 27D Lux features fenders, a double kickstand, disc brakes, a front dynamo hub and high-end dynamo-powered lights. It has a 3-speed front and 9-speed rear derailleur, for a wide range of gears. 

It uses a smaller, 20 inch rear wheel to keep the center of gravity lower. This make it easier for kids to mount the bike by themselves, and improves handling with carrying heavy loads. It also lowers the effective gearing, which will be a big help when hauling 2 kids and a week of groceries.

Options include huge cargo bags for the rear rack, rails for kids to hold, toddler seats, hydraulic instead of mechanical disc brakes, internal gear hub, and electric assist with the BionX system. The price can vary from $1500 for the basic 24D, to $2500 for a special version with Alfine 8-speed hub at Splendid Cycles, to $2900 for the 27D lux with dynamo lighting and high-end derailers. E-assist is $1000 extra.

Edgerunner Electric 24D Family

Reviews: 

Bicycle Times

Bike Radar

Davey Oil

Hum of the City

Specifications: (24D Family)

Frame & Fork
Paint
Brakes
Front Rotor
Rear Rotor
Brake Levers
Headset
Handlebar
Stem

Grips
Shifters & Derailers
Crank
Chainring
Bottom Bracket
Cassette
Chain
Front Hub
Rear Hub
Front Rim
Rear Rim
Spokes
Nipples
Front Tire
Rear Tire
Seat Collar
Seatpost

Saddle
Pedal
Kickstand
Front Light
Rear Light
Fenders

100% Chromoly
Black, White, Blue, or Orange + clear coat
Avid BB5
180mm
160mm
Avid FR5
FSA Mallet
31.8 clamp alloy
65mm ext (16.5”)
95mm ext (19”)
Velo Duracork
Acera 8s
Altus 8s 170mm
Steel 48-38-28
JIS - 68 x 125mm
Acera 11-34 t
KMC Z72 8-sp
Sealed Bearing 36h
Sealed Bearing 36h
36h Double Wall
36h Double Wall
14g Stainless
Brass
Schwalbe Big Ben 2.35
Schwalbe Big Ben 2.15
34.9 alloy allen
31.6, 300mm (16.5”)
31.6, 400mm (19”)
Velo
Resin, Cromoly Axle
Alloy black
Optional Luxos U
Optional B & M Std.
Optional Upgrade

kg271, by Madsen Cycles

These won't appeal to everyone, but they're pretty neat:

Here's a new longtail on the scene, and it's got a funny name. The manufacturer, Madsen Cycles, calls it "kg271." I assume that's a reference to its cargo cpacity--but that's a sizable load (almost 600 pounds)--so don't go trying it 'cause I said so, because I did not say so.

• Hi-tensile steel frame.
• 8-speed Sram X5 drive parts.
• One size, they say, fits 5'-0" to 6'-6". This troubles me a bit, but I'm only looking at a picture. If you give it a try, let me know how it goes.
• The "bucket" version has a bench seat with two seatbelts, and bet it's more fun than a barrel of monkeys with two little ones in there. It holds 40 gallons. Of what? I guess they leave that up to you.
• The rack on the rack-clad version looks pretty stout, and the six equally-spaced horizontal elements suggest a great deal of flexibility. Madsen's website suggests forthcoming accessories to carry a couple of bike on roof-rack style trays; or a couple of passengers; but what excites me most is the potential for a Grill Bike. Imagine slow cooking some short ribs on your way down to the mall on July 4th: "No, no more Powerbars for me. Thanks though."

Bucket Style: $1300. Rack Style: $1100.
Either way, add $100 for shipping to the LBS/IBD of your choice.
Madsen will cover the cost of assembly and tuning--a nice touch.

You can order online here.

The Xtracycle Radish

If you're looking for a perky radish, you can't go wrong with the one in Henri Rousseau's Pink Candle (see above), but since you're here at Bikes-For-The-Rest-Of-Us, I have to assume these aren't the droids you're looking for.

How about this Radish, from Xtracycle, One-Of-Our-Favorite-Companies-Ever:

The Radish is Xtracycle's latest creation: a full longtail bike that comes in one box, with everything you need to ride in style. I posted about it previously, but there is some new information from the Xtra-folks. They've designed the frame and chosen the components so that riders of various sizes can be comfortably accommodated with only a change of saddle height, so it's a one-size-fits-most arrangement. (If they're as smart as we think they are, they'll spec a bolted seat-post binder, or a wee cable to keep combat the black-market in seat-posts and saddles.)

The Xtra-folks have also disclosed these not-too-specific specifications:

• Xtracycle-specific steel frame, mated to a matching Free Radical (powder coated, we assume),
• Steel fork with V-brake in front,
• Rear disc brake (cable-actuated, we assume),
• 7 or 8 gears with "insane" range,
• Swept-back bars and overall laid-back styling,
• A good all-around component set (with a freehub and stout wheels, we assume),
• Fat-G street tires (Schwalbe, we prefer; Kenda, we expect), and
• Loads of standard accessories, including a chainguard, fenders, and the full Xtracycle longtail kit with Freeloader bags and traditional Snap Deck.

Price tag: $1199.
Radishes are almost available. Get on the Radish mailing list by emailing your contact to radish@xtracycle.com. I did.